Statistically 340 million women around the world are not expected to survive to age 40. The life span of women has been shortened by suffering and poverty. 50-60% of the workforce in developing countries works in the informal sector. Majority of the percentage are women because most of them do not receive equal opportunities in receiving an education that would enable them to join the formal workforce. About 90% of Africa’s working women are in the informal sector. Our Organization is focusing on helping women to join the workforce by providing them opportunities that sustain them in business.

We realize that women’s micro businesses have very limited access to formal financial services. Most of them rely on predatory moneylenders. Woman of Paradise is implementing microfinance Programs to avail small loans to women in developing countries needing working capital to start or expand a business. Most women in developing countries do not have access to collateral because some cultures do not allow them to own property rights, especially in communities where FGM and Polygamy is widely practiced.

Workshops

We conduct a 6 week workshop where we empower women with the tools they need to become social entrepreneurs.  Our business educators teach the women in communities how to start a business and build it while taking care of their families. During this rigorous seminar, we give the women a chance to compete for a grant if they present an excellent business model. We also emphasize on the need for women to collaborate with their husbands as supporters of their business to build healthy family relationships.

We also bring all the business women together for a networking event that brings all the women that have benefited from the Goldmine of Paradise workshop. We give them a chance to mentor each other and this provides a great opportunity for them to build the lives of other upcoming business women. During this event, we award the most successful business women and give them a chance to give back to the community after they have been appreciated and honored.